William “Willy” Gomes, Sr.
Year Inducted: 2001
Huehue Ranch | Hawai'i
A Big Island cowboy, Willy spent most of his life in Kona, where he still resides. Starting out as a plantation worker at the Honoka`a sugar plantation at the age of 14, Willy learned what hard work and dedication was all about. He then moved on to become a ranch hand for J.J. Nobriga. This led him to his life as a paniolo, which he continues to follow to this day. He was the foreman at Huehue Ranch for 32 years. Upon the sale of the ranch, he purchased 350 head of mother cows and continued operating the ranch as a lessee. Willy is still active and continues to operate his ranch with his son, William Jr. He has trained many cow and rope horses during his paniolo career, and is still active as a trainer. Of the paniolo way of life, Willy says, “life was hard, but we always had plenty fun – you gotta love it to live it!!”